Ignacio Ara

Ignacio Ara
University of Castilla-La Mancha · Physical Activity and Sport Sciences

PhD, Associate Professor

About

296
Publications
80,347
Reads
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7,645
Citations
Additional affiliations
September 2009 - present
University of Castilla-La Mancha
Position
  • Professor (Associate)
September 2004 - September 2009
University of Zaragoza
Position
  • Professor (Assistant)
January 2001 - January 2004
Universidad de Las Palmas de Gran Canaria
Position
  • PhD Student

Publications

Publications (296)
Poster
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: Exercise seems to improve brain health in older adults. Motivational strategies may enhance cognitive outcomes (1), but their effectiveness to maximize exercise benefits remains unclear. We aimed to assess the effects of a supervised exercise program on cognitive function in older adults, and whether motivational strategies influence...
Article
Life expectancy has increased worldwide alongside a rise in disability prevalence during old age. The impact and interrelationship among the precursors of disability in midlife remain to be better understood. Furthermore, investigating whether lifestyle factors may potentially influence health outcomes and the prognosis of vascular disease could be...
Article
Excess adipose tissue may promote chronic systemic inflammation and oxidative stress, causing endothelial damage. Early evidence indicates that obesity may be associated with poorer cerebral perfusion. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between body composition and cerebral hemodynamics. A total of 248 middle-aged adults (50-...
Presentation
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: Integrating motivational strategies within exercise programs may enhance physical and well-being outcomes in older adults (1), although their actual effectiveness remains unclear. This study aimed to analyze the effect of motivational strategies during a supervised exercise program on physical and well-being outcomes in individuals ag...
Article
Full-text available
Background Although the metabolic equivalents (METs) system is a common procedure to quantify the intensity of physical activity in older adults, it remains unclear whether the conventional METs intensity thresholds (CTs) used for this purpose are appropriate in this population. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to derive overall and fitness-specific...
Article
Full-text available
Background Unsupervised exercise intervention (UNSUP) appears to be a practical and beneficial strategy for older adults, although its feasibility and effectiveness compared to supervised exercise intervention (SUP) remains unknown. We aimed to compare the safety, attendance/adherence rates, and effectiveness of SUP versus UNSUP on physical functio...
Article
Introduction: Concurrent training has been shown to be a beneficial approach to improve overall health status in older adults. However, little is known about the adaptations of this type of training in the long term (i.e., after cessation of exercise), even less in older people affected by frailty syndrome. Therefore, this study aimed (i) to assess...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Although supervised exercise is frequently recommended for older adults, its superiority over unsupervised exercise remains uncertain. Furthermore, whether motivational techniques could help to enhance the effectiveness of the latter remains to be elucidated. The present randomized controlled trial aims to determine the role of supervis...
Article
Full-text available
Objectives: To investigate the synergist effects of exercise and HMB supplementation on disability, cognitive and physical function, and muscle power in institutionalized older people. Design: Cluster-randomized controlled trial. Participants: Seventy-two institutionalized older adults (age = 83 ± 10 years old; 63% women) were randomized in four...
Article
Full-text available
Objectives To assess the effects of an exercise training program combining power-oriented resistance training (RT) and high-intensity interval training (HIIT) on metabolic syndrome (MetS) markers in older people with COPD. Methods Twenty-nine older people (66–90 years old) with COPD were randomly assigned to 12 weeks of exercise training (ET; powe...
Article
Full-text available
Aging leads to physiological changes affecting body composition, mediated by lifestyle. However, the effectiveness of organized physical activities (OPAs) in attenuating or delaying these age-related transformations remains an area of limited understanding. The primary objectives of this study were threefold: (I) to comprehensively assess the evolu...
Article
Cornejo-Daza, PJ, Sánchez-Valdepeñas, J, Rodiles-Guerrero, L, Páez-Maldonado, JA, Ara, I, León-Prados, JA, Alegre, LM, Pareja-Blanco, F, and Alcazar, J. Vastus lateralis muscle size is differently associated with the different regions of the squat force-velocity and load-velocity relationships, rate of force development, and physical performance yo...
Article
Full-text available
Achieving a high quality of life in older adults can be difficult if they have limited physical function. The aims of this study were to evaluate the relationship between baseline values and variations in body composition, fitness, and nutritional status on health-related quality of life (HRQoL) and to describe the effects of a 6-month multicompone...
Preprint
Full-text available
Background Although supervised exercise is frequently recommended for older adults, its superiority over unsupervised exercise remains uncertain. Furthermore, whether motivational techniques could help to enhance the effectiveness of the latter remains to be elucidated. The present randomized controlled trial aims to determine the role of supervisi...
Preprint
Full-text available
Several factors, such as internal algorithm, sensor technology, use of antibacterial filters or obsolescence, might explain the differences among computerised metabolic carts when measuring gas exchange parameters during cardiopulmonary exercise tests (CPET). Thus, the main aim of this study was to compare the Jaeger Oxycon Pro and the Quark RMR du...
Poster
Full-text available
Introduction: The aim of the present study is to describe the multicomponent training programs implemented in the PRO-Training trial, a randomized controlled trial (RCT) investigating the safety, adherence, efficacy, and cost-effectiveness of different training programs for improving physical and mental health in older adults (Trial NCT05619250). T...
Article
Full-text available
Objectives To analyse the force–velocity relationship changes in response to two different training programmes differing in the set configuration (cluster vs. traditional), and their impact on physical function and frailty in pre-frail and frail older adults. Methods 43 pre-frail and frail (Frailty Phenotype ≥ 1 criteria) older adults (81.4 ± 5.1...
Article
Full-text available
The objective of this longitudinal study was to analyze changes in physical activity, sedentary time, sleep, anxiety, mood, and perceived health as a result of COVID-19 pandemic in a cohort of Spanish university students, both during the home confinement and one year after. Additionally, we analyzed the associations between physical activity, seden...
Article
Full-text available
Objective This study aimed to assess the residual effects of a 12‐week concurrent training program (power training + high‐intensity interval training) in older adults with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A total of 21 older adults with COPD [intervention (INT), n = 8; control (CON), n = 13; 76.9 ± 6.8 years] were assessed at...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to compare the Cosmed K5 portable indirect calorimeter, using the mixing chamber mode and face mask, with a stationary metabolic cart when measuring the resting metabolic rate (RMR) and to derive fitting equations if discrepancies are observed. Forty‐three adults (18–84 years) were assessed for their RMR for two 30‐min consecutive...
Article
Full-text available
The influence of nutritional factors on frailty syndrome is still poorly understood. Thus, we aimed to confirm cross-sectional associations of diet-related blood biomarker patterns with frailty and pre-frailty statuses in 1271 older adults from four European cohorts. Principal component analysis (PCA) was performed based on plasma levels of α-carot...
Article
Full-text available
Aims: This investigation aimed to determine the effect of different intensities of training on non-exercise physical activity (NEPA) and estimated thermogenesis (NEAT) from a 1-year exercise randomized controlled trial (RCT) in individuals with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) on non-training days. Additionally, changes in NEPA and estimated NEAT i...
Article
Full-text available
This editorial presents some methodological issues that should be considered when performing physical exercise in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and raises the need for specific knowledge to adjust the protocols and training programs used in this population.
Poster
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: Although it has previously been shown that unsupervised home-based (UHB) exercise training can provide health benefits for reducing the detrimental effects of aging (1), we still do not know how effective an UHB exercise program can be compared to one that is supervised. Thus, the aim of this systematic review and meta-analysis was to...
Article
Full-text available
Carbohydrate availability affects fat metabolism during exercise; however, the effects of complete muscle glycogen unavailability on maximal fat oxidation (MFO) rate remain unknown. Our purpose was to examine the MFO rate in patients with McArdle disease, comprising an inherited condition caused by complete blockade of muscle glycogen metabolism, c...
Article
Full-text available
Background: The aim of this study was to summarize evidence on energy metabolism through peak fat oxidation (PFO) and maximum fat oxidation (Fatmax), as well as to analyze the protocols used in people with spinal cord injury (SCI) and to examine the main factors related to fat oxidation ability (i.e., age, sex, level of physical activity, and leve...
Poster
Full-text available
INTRODUCTION: Although it has previously been shown that unsupervised home-based (UHB) exercise training can attenuate the detrimental effects of aging (1), the effectiveness of UHB when compared to supervised center-based (SCB) training remains unclear. PURPOSE: To analyze whether a supervised exercise program would improve body composition sign...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed: To analyze the effects of 6-month multicomponent training (MCT) and 4-month detraining on functional capacity and frailty among older adults with/at risk of frailty and to analyze the influence of frailty status on training and detraining adaptations. A total of 106 older adults (80.5 ± 6.0 years) were divided into a control (CON)...
Article
Full-text available
Objective: To determine the link between physical fitness and body composition with nocturnal and nap time in Spanish older adults. Methods: Eight hundred thirty older adults underwent several tests. Sleep was measured using Jenkins Sleep Scale. Nocturnal sleep was categorized (<7, 7–9, and >9 hours), and nap time (no nap, 1–30 minutes, and >30 min...
Article
The aims of this study were (1) to analyse the effects of a 6‐month multicomponent training (MCT) on the physical fitness of older adults with or at risk of frailty; (2) to study the consequences of a 4‐month detraining period; (3) to analyse the influence of frailty status on the training and detraining adaptations. A total of 102 robust, frail an...
Article
Full-text available
The purpose of this study is to provide a force–velocity (F–V) equation that combines a linear and a hyperbolic region, and to compare its derived results to those obtained from linear equations. A total of 10 cross-training athletes and 14 recreationally resistance-trained young men were assessed in the unilateral leg press (LP) and bilateral benc...
Article
Physical exercise effects and ageing on fitness may be influenced by nutritional status. This study investigates the effects of a 6‐month multicomponent exercise training (MCT) on nutritional status and evaluates if this type of exercise could affect differently body composition and physical fitness depending on the nutritional status of older adul...
Article
Full-text available
Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is a cluster of medical conditions associated with several health disorders. MetS and frailty can be related to prolonged physical deconditioning. There is a need to know whether there is concordance between the different ways of diagnosing it and to know their prevalence in Spanish older adults. Thus, the aims of this stu...
Article
Full-text available
Workers spend a large amount of time working, limiting the possibility of meeting physical activity (PA) guidelines. A better health-related quality of life (HRQoL) provides benefits for the employee and company. The aim of this study was to analyse the associations of four behavioural categories between compliance with PA guidelines (aerobic and s...
Article
Full-text available
Background Increased physical activity (PA) is a very important factor in a healthy aging lifestyle. Psychosocial factors have also a main role in the initiation and maintenance of this behavior, but nowadays its implications for frailty elderly people are unknown, therefore, the aim of this study was to identify the psychosociological variables of...
Article
Background and Aims This study aims to examine associations of food portion sizes (PS) with markers of insulin resistance (IR) and clustered of metabolic risk score in European adolescents. Methods 495 adolescents (53.5% females) from the HELENA study were included. The association between PS from food groups and HOMA-IR index, VO2 max, and metabo...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction The multiple benefits of physical activity (PA) compared to the current lack of adherence to this behavior in older people makes it necessary to identify the factors related to its long-term dropout, therefore, the aim of this study was: (i) to study the evolution of behavior change for PA through stages of change (SoC) after 8 years a...
Article
Objectives: The aim was to evaluate general changes and investigate the association between diet quality, physical activity (PA), and sedentary time (ST) during COVID-19 lockdown and the subsequent 7-month changes in health-related behaviours and lifestyles in older people. Participants: 1092 participants (67-97y) from two Spanish cohorts were i...
Article
Full-text available
The aim of this study was to explore the differences among between adherence to physical activity (PA) and sociodemographic variables, body composition, and physical fitness levels in older adults (>65 years). A number of 2712 participants (2086 female; 76.92%) ranging from 65 to 92 years, participated in the study. Stages of change (SoC) for PA fr...
Article
Introduction: The long-term effects of exercise in patients with McArdle disease-the paradigm of 'exercise intolerance'-are unknown. This is an important question as the severity of the disease frequently increases with time. Purpose: To study the effects of a long-term exercise intervention on clinical and fitness-related outcomes in McArdle pa...
Article
Full-text available
Objectives: To assess the influence of different chronic diseases on lifestyle and health behaviours changes after COVID-19 lockdown in Spanish older people compared to people without these diseases and compare the differences in these changes between both periods. Methods: 1092 participants (80.3±5.6y;66.5%women) from two Spanish cohorts were i...
Article
Full-text available
Background It is important for sport scientists and health professionals to have estimative methods for energy demand during different physical activities. The metabolic equivalent of task (MET) provides a feasible approach for classifying activity intensity as a multiple of the resting metabolic rate (RMR). RMR is generally assumed to be 3.5 mL of...
Article
Objectives: Muscle power is important for an older adult's physical independence and can be easily estimated using the sit-to-stand (STS) test. This investigation aimed to assess if muscle power estimated using the STS test could identify older adults at risk of losing physical independence beyond handgrip strength, physical activity (PA), and sed...
Article
Objective To investigate sex-specific associations of osteoporosis with incidence of and mortality from cardiovascular disease (CVD), respiratory disease, and cancer as well as with all-cause mortality. Methods In total, 305,072 participants (53% [161,383] women) of UK Biobank were included in this study (2007-2010). Self-reported diagnosis of ost...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Regucalcin, or senescence marker protein-30 (SMP30), is a Ca2+-binding protein with multiple functions reported in the literature. Physical exercise has been shown to improve aging markers; nevertheless, SMP30 in humans has not been extensively researched. Older adults experience a decline in functional capacity and body composition. T...
Article
Full-text available
Introduction: This study describes the theoretical foundations of the development of an equation that allows for the estimation of the mobilized load when training with suspension devices (type TRX®) and presents a mobile application as a means for its use. Methods: Systems of equations are proposed of which the terms depend on the angulation of th...
Article
Full-text available
The objectives were to clarify whether the relationship between physical performance and frailty was independently and jointly mediated by movement behaviors and body composition. We analyzed 871 older adults (476 women) from The Toledo Study for Healthy Aging. Skeletal muscle index (SMI) and fat index (FI) were determined using bone densitometry....
Article
Full-text available
Objectives This study aimed i) to compare relative sit-to-stand power (STSrel) values yielded by the different equations reported in the literature; ii) to examine the associations between STSrel, derived from the equations, and age, sex, frailty and habitual gait speed (HGS); and iii) to compare the ability of the different STSrel equations to det...
Article
Full-text available
This study aimed to determine the specific adaptations provoked by power-oriented resistance training using light (LL-PT, 40% 1-RM) vs. heavy (HL-PT, 80% 1-RM) loads in older adults. Using a randomized within-subject study design, 45 older adults (>65 years) completed an 8-week control period (CTR) followed by 12 weeks of unilateral LL-PT vs. HL-PT...
Article
Full-text available
The purposes of this study were: (i) to evaluate the association of sit-to-stand (STS) power and body composition parameters [body mass index (BMI) and legs skeletal muscle index (SMI)] with age; (ii) to provide cut-off points for low relative STS power (STSrel), (iii) to provide normative data for well-functioning older adults and (iv) to assess t...
Article
People with spinal cord injury (SCI) tend to be more sedentary and increase fat accumulation, which could have a negative influence on metabolic flexibility. The aim of this study was to investigate the capacity to oxidize fat in a homogenous sample of men with thoracic SCI compared with healthy noninjured men during an arm cycling incremental test...
Article
Full-text available
Abstract Background Most studies on the effects of sleep, sedentary behavior (SB), and physical activity (PA) on mental health did not account for the intrinsically compositional nature of the time spent in several behaviors. Thus, we examined the cross-sectional and prospective associations of device-measured compositional time in sleep, SB, light...
Conference Paper
INTRODUCTION: The metabolic equivalent of task (MET) provides a feasible approach for classifying physical activity (PA) intensity as a multiple of the resting metabolic rate (RMR). The RMR standard value of 1 MET is generally assumed as 3.5 ml/kg/min, a value that has been criticized for being inappropriate in the older adult population. This fac...
Article
Full-text available
Background: Physical fitness levels and the amount of accumulated adipose tissue (fatness) relate to current and future individuals' heath status. Nevertheless, the interrelationships of their combined patterns with polypharmacy and the types of medications consumed have not been sufficiently investigated. Methods: This cross-sectional study was...
Article
Background The purpose of this study was to evaluate the relationship of lower-limb muscle power with mortality and hospitalization. Methods A total of 1928 subjects from the Toledo Study for Healthy Aging were included. Muscle power was assessed with the 5-repetition STS test and subjects were classified into different groups of relative power (i...
Article
Full-text available
Background A validated, standardized, and feasible test to assess muscle power in older adults has recently been reported: the sit‐to‐stand (STS) muscle power test. This investigation aimed to assess the relationship between relative STS power and age and to provide normative data, cut‐off points, and minimal clinically important differences (MCID)...
Article
Full-text available
We used data from 3041 participants in four cohorts of community-dwelling individuals aged ≥65 years in Spain collected through a pre-pandemic face-to-face interview and a telephone interview conducted between weeks 7 to 15 after the beginning of the COVID-19 lockdown. On average, the confinement was not associated with a deterioration in lifestyle...
Article
Background Physical fitness and body composition are important health indicators, nevertheless their combined pattern inter-relationships and their association with mortality are poorly investigated. Methods This longitudinal study is part of the Spanish EXERNET-Elder project. Person-months follow-up were calculated from the interview date, perfor...
Article
Purpose: Being able to rise from a chair is paramount for independent living and is strongly influenced by the ability of the lower limbs to exert mechanical power. This study assessed minimal thresholds of lower-limb relative muscle power required to perform the sit-to-stand (STS) task in older adults and its association with mobility limitations...
Article
Full-text available
The main objective of this study was to device-assess the levels of physical activity and sedentary behaviour patterns of older adults during the situation prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, home confinement, and phase-0 of the deescalation. We also aimed to analyse the effectiveness of an unsupervised home-based exercise routine to counteract the pot...
Article
Background The 30-s sit-to-stand (STS) muscle power test is a valid test to assess muscle power in older people; however, whether it may be used to assess trajectories of lower-limb muscle power through the adult lifespan is not known. This study evaluated the pattern and time course of variations in relative, allometric and specific STS muscle pow...